38: Flexible

Jiang Donghua coldly watched Chen Ming's fawning expression, thinking to himself.

“I never expected the guy behind the Liu Siblings to be someone on the verge of becoming a Five-Star Dou Zhe. But isn't this guy a bit too flexible?”

He squinted, looking at Chen Ming’s face full of smiles, and thought.

“He’s not giving me a chance to slap him!”

Sure enough, Chen Ming had already approached with a beaming smile.

“Brother Jiang is truly outstanding! No wonder he earned the favor of Master Mo Xuan!”

Jiang Donghua almost laughed at such nauseating flattery.

He slightly raised the corner of his mouth, giving two indifferent snorts as a response.

Seeing this, Chen Ming quickly pulled out a brocade pouch from his Huai and offered it with both hands.

“These are a few First-tier Magical Beast cores that this junior accidentally obtained. I hope Brother Jiang will accept them.”

He wore a ingratiating smile on his face.

“With Brother Jiang’s talent, following Instructor Mo Xuan, you will surely become a renowned Master Alchemist!”

Jiang Donghua glanced at the glowing magical cores, a cold sneer in his heart.

“He’s certainly willing to spend money.”

He casually took the brocade pouch, weighed it in his palm, and then suddenly grinned.

“If I don’t accept such a generous gift from Senior Brother Chen, it would seem heartless.”

Saying that, he turned to look at the Liu Siblings.

“But… does Senior Brother Chen not know who this gift should be given to?”

Chen Ming’s face froze, then he quickly reacted and offered an apologetic smile.

“Yes, yes, yes, this junior was inconsiderate…”

He turned and took out another brocade pouch, respectfully handing it to the Liu Siblings.

“I offended you greatly before, I hope you two can forgive me.”

Junior Sister Liu pouted, about to refuse, but her brother secretly pulled her back.

Senior Brother Liu took the brocade pouch and said lightly:

“Senior Brother Chen is too kind.”

Seeing this, Jiang Donghua finally nodded in satisfaction.

“That’s more like it.”

He patted Chen Ming’s shoulder and said meaningfully:

“Senior Brother Chen is so sensible; I’m sure in the future… he will go further.”

Fine sweat beaded on Chen Ming’s forehead as he repeatedly nodded.

“Brother Jiang’s teachings are wise.”

After Jiang Donghua left with the Liu Siblings, Chen Ming’s smile instantly vanished.

The surrounding students, upon hearing this conversation, immediately erupted in chatter.

“What? That kid, who’s only a Two-Star Dou Zhe, actually became a disciple of Master Mo Xuan?”

“Oh my god! That’s a Fifth-Grade Alchemist!”

“What’s this kid’s background? How could he make Master Mo Xuan break his rule and take a disciple?”

For a moment, countless gazes, whether envious or jealous, shot towards Jiang Donghua.

Especially the female students, whose eyes gleamed with a strange light.

Several graceful female students had already quietly straightened their clothes, their eyes sparkling.

“I heard that Master Mo Xuan’s disciples receive specially made cultivation pills every month.”

“If I could get acquainted with this Junior Brother Jiang!”

“Maybe I could even ask Master Mo Xuan to refine pills through him!”

Even more so, several beautiful female students could no longer hold back, swaying their hips as they walked towards Jiang Donghua.

“Junior Brother Jiang~”

A young girl in a pink gauze dress called out sweetly.

“I heard you became a disciple of Master Mo Xuan? Congratulations~”

Another voluptuous female student even directly pressed close to him.

“Junior Brother Jiang, I’ve recently encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation. I wonder if I could ask you some questions about alchemy?”

Seeing this, Junior Sister Liu stomped her foot in anger.

“These vixen! Just now they were watching us coldly, and now they’re throwing themselves at him!”

Jiang Donghua was surrounded by these suddenly enthusiastic female students, unable to move, and cold sweat couldn't help but appear on his forehead.

He chuckled dryly.

“Senior Sisters are too kind. I’ve just entered the sect; I don’t understand anything.”

“Oh, Junior Brother Jiang is too modest~”

“Exactly, exactly! To be chosen by Master Mo Xuan, you must have extraordinary qualities~”

The female students chattered away, as if they couldn’t wait to devour Jiang Donghua alive.

In the distance, several male students watched with burning envy.

“This kid’s luck is too good!”

“Hmph, isn’t it just dumb luck?”

“Shh, lower your voice. He’s Master Mo Xuan’s disciple now; we can’t afford to offend him!”

Jiang Donghua finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd of women, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said to the Liu Siblings with lingering fear.

“Let’s go quickly!”

Senior Brother Liu couldn’t help but laugh.

“Junior Brother Jiang, it seems your future days won’t be too boring!”

Jiang Donghua shook his head helplessly, but secretly groaned in his heart.

“This is big trouble now…”

After the crowd dispersed, Chen Ming, with a somber face, dragged his three followers to a corner.

“Listen up, all of you,”

He lowered his voice, his eyes flickering with apprehension.

“From now on, no one is allowed to provoke Jiang Donghua and the other two.”

Chen Xiao, clutching his still faintly aching chest, asked unwillingly.

“Senior Brother, are we just going to let it go?”

“Idiot!”

Chen Ming slapped him on the back of the head.

“Do you know what a Fifth-Grade Alchemist means?”

He looked around, his voice even lower.

“If Master Mo Xuan gets angry, let alone the few of us, even the family forces behind us could be uprooted by a single word from him!”

Upon hearing this, the three followers’ faces instantly turned pale.

“From now on, when you see them, not only must you not offend them,”

Chen Ming gritted his teeth and said.

“If you have the chance, you should even help them out. Understand?”

“It would be best if Jiang Donghua owed us a small favor! If not, we still can’t let this guy harbor such animosity towards us!”

“Yes, yes…”

The three nodded repeatedly.

Chen Ming looked in the direction Jiang Donghua had left, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

How could he not want revenge?

But in this world where strength was revered, the power of a Fifth-Grade Alchemist was enough to wipe out any minor force.

“Let’s go,”

Chen Ming sighed deeply.

“Remember, from today onwards, Jiang Donghua is someone we cannot afford to provoke.”

The three followers trailed behind him dejectedly, their usual arrogance completely gone.

Meanwhile, Jiang Donghua, as if sensing something, looked back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“It seems the identity of an Alchemist is unexpectedly useful. To be precise, having a Fifth-Grade Alchemist backing you is truly as dazzling as a golden signboard.”

Jiang Donghua, holding the sleeves of the Liu Siblings, activated his Dou Qi and let out a low shout.

“Go!”

“Yellow Rank High-Tier Dou Technique – Roaming Cloud Steps!”

Before his voice faded, the three figures had already floated up like flowing clouds, rising and falling several times along the academy corridor, and in a blink of an eye, they had shaken off the overly enthusiastic female students without a trace.

“Hoo—”

At the edge of a secluded grove, Jiang Donghua finally stopped, released the two, and shook his head with a sigh.

“When women get enthusiastic, they’re truly harder to deal with than Magical Beasts.”

Liu Yuting patted her chest, still shaken.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang.”

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Jiang Donghua’s resolute profile, her heart pounding, her face slightly flushed, and suddenly she let out a chuckle.

“But Senior Brother Jiang is quite the catch now; I’m afraid such scenes will be common in the future.”

Jiang Donghua waved his hand helplessly, then said seriously.

“I’ve already solved your worries. Chen Ming and his group should no longer dare to trouble you.”

Senior Brother Liu clasped his fists solemnly.

“Senior Brother Jiang’s great kindness, we siblings will never forget.”

“It was merely a small effort.”

Jiang Donghua waved his hand casually.

“You two can now cultivate in peace. If anyone still dares to cause trouble.”

A proud arc lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Just tell them my name.”

Seeing that they were still a bit hesitant, he added.

“If that doesn’t work, then throw out Instructor Mo Xuan’s name too.”

Liu Yuting lowered her head, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She already had an inexplicable affection for this brave, fearless, and talented Senior Brother Jiang, but whenever she saw Jiang Donghua’s dazzling brilliance, she couldn’t help but feel inferior.

The gap between her and him was as distant as heaven and earth.

This admiration could only be buried deep in her heart; she didn't even dare to reveal a hint of it to her brother.

The Liu Siblings exchanged glances and could only nod silently.

They knew in their hearts that from today onwards, the gap between themselves and Jiang Donghua would only grow wider until it disappeared.